Stevens School of Business High Frequency Trading Competition

Screens in the Hanlon Lab showcase currency pricing data as a professor, dressed in a dark suit, gestures to the class.

The Stevens School of Business finance department is holding its annual High Frequency Trading Competition that uses the SHIFT high frequency simulation platform created by Dr. Ionut Florescu, director of the financial technology and analytics program at Stevens. SHIFT is a platform designed to realistically simulate how modern high-speed financial markets operate, providing investors, market makers, exchange managers, and regulators with a valuable tool to test scenarios and strategies in a lifelike environment before applying them in real-world markets.

The High Frequency Algorithmic Trading Competition is open to all domestic undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in an accredited university located in the United States. In this unique team trading competition, the teams will develop their own code to perform algorithmic trading. In order to be eligible to participate in this competition, teams must have some experience with both GitHub and Python programming.

Objectives:

  • Encourage Innovation: This team-based competition allows university students to foster a culture of innovation by providing a platform to further enhance coding skills and their knowledge of the trading mechanics in financial markets.

  • Develop Skills: Students will develop implementation skills for any algorithmic trading idea. Students will learn to use Python 3.8 and Fix Protocol 4.1.

  • Recognize Talent: Identify and celebrate the talents and innovative ideas of fellow students by awarding group prizes ranging from $400-$2000

Eligibility:

  • Domestic undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled in any university located within the United States studying any undergraduate major or graduate program.

  • Some members of each team must be familiar with Python programming and Github.

Team Prizes:

  1. First Place - $2000.00

  2. Second Place - $1200.00

  3. Third Place - $400.00

Team Structure:

  • Each team is required to have a minimum of two members and a maximum of four members.

  • Each team needs to have a team name and a designated Team Leader which will submit the full application package on behalf of its team.

  • Teams may be composed of a combination of both domestic graduate and undergraduate students.

How to Enter the Competition:

  • Application Process: Teams must apply here by February 1, 2025. There is no initial application fee, but each team will be reviewed and need to be approved for entrance into the competition by the finance faculty at Stevens.

  • Selection Notification: Teams will be notified by February 15, 2025. If selected for the competition, there is a non-refundable $100 registration fee per team.

  • Registration Payment: The $100 non-refundable per team registration fee is due by February 28, 2025.

Important Dates

  • Applications Open: December 10

  • Application Deadline: February 1:

  • Selection Notification: February 15-28: Selection Notification

  • Registration Payment Deadline: 7 business days from the successful application notification

  • Mandatory Information Session: March 3

  • Technology Testing Period: March 7-10

  • Competition Trading Days: March 24-April 25

  • Award Ceremony: May 2

If you have additional questions, please email algotrading@stevens.edu.

algotrading@stevens.edu